Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7308)
The law is known as the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992.
The State shall promote and accelerate the development of the seed industry by conserving plant genetic resources, encouraging organization and assistance to industry sectors, considering seed industry as a preferred investment area, encouraging private sector participation in research, production, and distribution, and providing protection against unfair competition from imported seeds.
Seed means plant material used for the production of food, forage, fibers, industrial crops, oil, flowers, grasses, herbs and aquatic plants, including but not limited to meristem and clonal propagules such as tubers, corms, cuttings, and micro-propagated plantlets.
The Council is composed of the Secretary of Agriculture (Chairman), Director of Bureau of Plant Industry (Vice Chairman and Executive Director), Dean of Agriculture College UP Los Baños, Directors of the Institute of Plant Breeding, Philippine Council for Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, Philippine Rice Research Institute, two representatives from accredited farmers' organizations, and one representative from the seed industry.
The Council formulates policies to stimulate plant breeding, encourages quality systems in seed production, promotes seed industry infrastructure, formulates development programs aiming for seed self-sufficiency, grants awards and subsidies to plant breeders, and promulgates implementing rules.
The Executive Director executes policies, assists in administration, coordinates seed programs of government agencies, manages budgetary appropriations, supervises the Council Secretariat, and maintains official records.
It formulates seed quality plans, conducts seed sampling and testing, inspects seed crops and storage, handles seed research and training, collects fees related to seed activities, supervises seed labs, accredits private labs, and executes functions as directed by the Council.
Technical assistance including training, exemption from import duties and taxes for certain technical equipment for five years under conditions, and a 200% income tax deduction on research, development, and extension expenses for the first five years of operation.
Importation in commercial quantities of locally produced species is prohibited except when seeds are difficult to grow or allowed by the Council; exportation of rare species or plant varieties is prohibited except for scientific or international exchange purposes as determined by the Council.
Violators can be fined up to Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) or imprisoned for up to five years, or both. In firms or associations, officers who knowingly participated can be penalized with imprisonment.